Madeline Pearl (Drewes) Yliniemi was called to heaven on Sunday evening, February 11, 2024 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN at the age of 94 years and 120 days, with all four of her children by her side.
Elmer Jacob “Jake” Yliniemi, of Osage, MN departed earthly life on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN at the age of 96 years, and 71 days. Jake was born on October 9, 1926, at home in Toad Lake Township, MN to Samuel and Hilda (Kippola) Yliniemi. The Yliniemi’s only spoke Finnish, and when Jake attended country school he quickly learned English. Later in life earned his GED. With a family of 14 everyone had a job; Jake was the dishwasher, hunter, and tended the sheep. Before he was 16, he went to the west coast with his friend Bea Kangas working in the shipyards on the gun turrets. After WWII ended, he returned to Minnesota and traveled with Kenneth Korpi to work in the copper mines of Montana. When they returned to Minnesota, Jake again searched for work; Alexander Construction was rebuilding old Hwy 34 near Snellman. Jake asked for a job and was turned down because he was too young. Two workers were trying to lift a large rock out of a trench
“I think we can work together really well,” David Meyer said. “What I’ve been talking about the whole time is fixing the relationship between leadership and workers, so we can make Becker County a place where people want to work and want to be at. That needs to be addressed soon. Becker County can’t afford to lose any more people.”
Becker County incumbent Commissioner Ben Grimsley came in first in the Becker County Board race for District 2, with challenger David Meyer coming in a solid second. And Craig Hall and Erica Jepson advanced in race for District 1 Becker County Board seat.
Second-place winner Erica Jepson of Evergreen Township collected 438 votes, or 31%, to squeak out a tight win over Osage Township supervisor Tim Clements, who received 402 votes, or 28% with all precincts reporting.